Università Roma Tre

first part

Definition of climate (climatology and meteorology). The climate system (atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, Sun).
The solar radiation and the energy balance of the Earth (solar physics calls, laws of radiation, absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere).
Atmosphere and Climate (recalls of composition, structure and circulation of the atmosphere).
Clouds and aerosols (calls processes of condensation and cloud formation).
Ocean and climate (recalls composition, structure and ocean circulation).
Radiative transfer (calls of absorption, emission and radiative transfer of the atmosphere).
The greenhouse effect (the atmosphere as greenhouse gas emissions, the calculation of the energy balance, greenhouse models).
The ozone layer (ultraviolet radiation in the atmosphere, photochemical production of ozone, ozone measurements, "hole" ozone).
Climate observation with remote sensing (measurements from land, satellite measurements, infrared instruments, tools "limb viewing", applications of remote sensing to studies climate).
Climate sensitivity and climate change (changes astronomical, solar, atmospheric, oceanic and temperature fluctuations).
Atmosphere of other planets.
Climate and society.
Multidecadal variability of sea surface temperature (seminar Dr. Salvatore Marullo).
Lidar measurement of greenhouse gases (visit to the ENEA Frascati Research Center).



second part

Introduction to climate models. The conceptual path from observations to simulations. Dynamic and statistical approaches. Hierarchy of climate models and their components, types of models, the concept of parameter.
Models Power Budget (EBM). General structure of an EBM, EBM 0-dimensional, one-dimensional EBM, parameter in EBM, applications.
Radiative-convective models (RC) and models Intermediate Complexity (EMIC). Radiative-convective and radiative balance in climate models and implementation at intermediate complexity.
Global Climate Models (GCMs). Structure of a GCM, components and interactions, fundamental equations and their modeling. Activities and results of attribution. Validation of climate models.
Elements of regional climate modeling and downscaling techniques.
Scenarios and climate projections for the XXI century.
Analyze the climate and its changes from another point of view: neural network models and analysis of Granger causality. Details on techniques and results of attribution. Downscaling with neural network models.

F. W. Taylor (2005), Elementary Climate Physics, Oxford.
K. McGuffie & A. Henderson-Sellers (2014), The Climate Modelling Primer, 4th Edition, Wiley.